Dell CEO Michael Dell and Donald Trump’s funny conversation caught on mic: ‘Sir, we don’t have …’
A lighthearted, funny exchange between tech billionaire Michael Dell and President Donald Trump has been captured at a high-level government briefing. According to a video shared online, the founder and CEO of Dell Technologies was overheard pitching his own unique twist on presidential travel, during an event at the White House.“Sir, we don't have a helicopter," Michael Dell was caught telling Trump over an active microphone, adding “We have a Dellicopter.” This humorous exchange appeared to have happened a day before a much more grounded discussion about the future of the White House South Lawn.
President Trump revealed this week that the lawn has been taking a serious beating from the military’s latest high-tech aircraft.New helipad at White HouseThe newest fleet of Marine One helicopters – built by Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin – was completed to give the president increased performance and payload capabilities.
However, that extra muscle has come with an unexpected side effect.“When you land on the grass, it's not that the grass gets discolored, it gets ripped out. They didn't tell us how powerful these helicopters were and they felt a little bit guilty,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Since the powerful aircraft keep tearing up the historic grass, Sikorsky has agreed to completely foot the bill for a brand-new, heavy-duty presidential landing pad.According to Trump, the helicopter manufacturer will spend between $5 million and $6 million to install a solid granite helipad on the South Lawn to prevent further damage.
Once he learned the company was paying for the construction, Trump admitted he couldn’t resist adding a personal touch. He requested that the new granite pad feature a beautifully carved, official seal of the White House, according to a report by news agency Reuters.Lockheed Martin confirms the dealThe report says that Lockheed Martin later released a statement confirming the multimillion-dollar price range mentioned by the president, though they didn't specify the exact final cost."This specific contribution was made to the National Park Service.
Our engagement with the federal government is guided by rigorous ethics and compliance standards and conducted in full accordance with all applicable laws and regulations," a spokesperson for Lockheed Martin said, ensuring everything was handled by the book.Get the latest technology news and updates.
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